or, The Silver Skates 75

fourteen from his list, just because she was tall and looked
almost like a woman. On the contrary, he would probably
exert himself to do honor to such an august-looking damsel.
Who could tell? So she sported and laughed and danced as
gayly as the youngest, and was the soul of all their merry
games. Father, mother and grandmother looked on approv-
ingly; so did grandfather, before he spread his large red
handkerchief over his face, leaving only the top of his skull-
cap visible. This kerchief was his ensign of sleep.

Earlier in the evening, all had joined in the fun. In the
general hilarity, there had seemed to be a difference only in
bulk between grandfather and the baby. Indeed, a shade of
solemn expectation, now and then flitting across the faces of
the younger members, had made them seem rather more
thoughtful than their elders.

Now the spirit of fun reigned supreme. The very flames
danced and capered in the polished grate. A pair of prim
candles, that had been staring at the astral lamp, began to wink
at other candles far away in the mirrors. “There was a long
bell-rope suspended from the ceiling in the corner, made of
glass beads, netted over a cord nearly as thick as your wrist.
It generally hung in the shadow, and made no sign; but to-
night it twinkled from end to end. Its handle of crimson
glass sent reckless dashes of red at the papered wall, turning
its dainty blue stripes into purple. Passers-by halted to catch
the merry laughter floating through curtain and sash into the
street, then skipped on their way with the startled conscious-
ness that the village was wide awake. At last matters grew
so uproarious that the grandsire’s red kerchief came down
from his face with a jerk. What decent old gentleman could
sleep in such a racket! Mynheer van Gleck regarded his